# Connect GH to Pen Plotter CNC

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/connect-gh-to-pen-plotter-cnc/202592>\
**Category:** Grasshopper\
**Tags:** windows, cnc\
**Created:** [April 4, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/connect-gh-to-pen-plotter-cnc/202592 "2025-04-04T16:00:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kotto\_97](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/kotto_97/32/604068_2.png) [@kotto\_97](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/kotto_97)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/connect-gh-to-pen-plotter-cnc/202592/1 "2025-04-04T16:00:06Z")

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Hi forum.

I would like to know if there’s a possibility to connect GH directly to a CNC machine (pen plotter in this case) so I can convert my curves into gcode and stream it directly to the plotter. I’m pretty sure it will be easier with c# or python, but a plugin could also be helpful.

I’ve searched the forum and the internet about this and found nothing. any tip will be appreciated!

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Japhy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/japhy/32/487647_2.png) [@Japhy](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Japhy)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/connect-gh-to-pen-plotter-cnc/202592/2 "2025-04-04T16:09:11Z")

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There are some on Food4Rhino, woodbee comes to mind..

> **[Woodbee](https://www.food4rhino.com/en/app/woodbee)**
>
> Woodbee is a compact CAM plugin for Grasshopper currently focusing on the milling objects from planar sheets.

> **[NC Viewer // GCode Viewer and Machine Simulator](https://ncviewer.com/)**
>
> Powerful online GCode Viewer to simulate GCode files. NC Viewer is the best free gcode editor for verifying CNC and 3D printer files.

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**Author:** ![grbl9789](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/grbl9789/32/600793_2.png) [@grbl9789](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/grbl9789)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/connect-gh-to-pen-plotter-cnc/202592/3 "2025-04-04T16:40:23Z")

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> **[iDraw\_GH](https://www.food4rhino.com/en/app/idrawgh)**
>
> A single component plugin to stream GRBL and G-code commands to your iDraw pen plotter directly from Grasshopper. As of V1.1.0 it now should support basically ANY GRBL plotter.

> **[QuickDrawGH](https://www.food4rhino.com/en/app/quickdrawgh)**
>
> Use Google QuickDraw data inside of Grasshopper!

> **[AxiDraw Control](https://www.food4rhino.com/en/app/axidraw-control)**
>
> Control your AxiDraw from within Grasshopper!

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**Author:** ![jaymezd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/jaymezd/32/652744_2.png) [@jaymezd](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/jaymezd)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/connect-gh-to-pen-plotter-cnc/202592/4 "2025-04-04T17:40:15Z")

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I was about to come in and say I’ve written a couple plugins for this exact thing, but I see Greg’s already got my back! 🤝 💪

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**Author:** ![kotto\_97](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/kotto_97/32/604068_2.png) [@kotto\_97](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/kotto_97)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/connect-gh-to-pen-plotter-cnc/202592/5 "2025-04-04T20:10:25Z")

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And you already helped me to make it work with DRAWBOT. Thanks alot James!

For everyone that is reading this post, I highly reccomend the plugn IDraw. It solved my issue!

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**Author:** ![kiteboardshaper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/kiteboardshaper/32/767533_2.png) [@kiteboardshaper](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/kiteboardshaper)\
**Post date:** [April 6, 2025, 9:58am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/connect-gh-to-pen-plotter-cnc/202592/6 "2025-04-06T09:58:30Z")

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Awesome to know you have this running.

This thread may also be a good reference:

> [@HPGL Vinyl Cutter/Plotter control via serial port](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/hpgl-vinyl-cutter-plotter-control-via-serial-port/126918/13):
>
> Beating on this some more on my end; I think I’m seeing a combination of mac related serial port shenanigans and some plotter quirks: Inkscape on Windows works fine, Inkscape on Mac chokes after a few lines. I’m using the ‘Plot’ extension, with HPGL selected. Control from the terminal not working from either. I swear I could do an IN;PD;PU; and at least get some life out of it a few weeks ago. It reports ‘Cutting’ whenever it receives characters. None of the Output Instructions report anything…

Cheers

DK